Bonnie Kathleen Blair

Blair, Bonnie Kathleen, 1964–, American speed skater, b. Cornwall, N.Y. An outstanding technical skater, she won more individual gold medals (five) in Olympic competition than any other American woman, and her total of six Olympic medals was the most ever won by any American winter-sports athlete until Apolo Ohno surpassed her in 2010. The Milwaukee-based Blair won the 500-m race and placed second in the 1000-m race at the games in Calgary, Alberta (1988); won the 500-m and 1000-m races in Albertville, France (1992); and won the 500-m and 1000-m races in Lillehammer, Norway (1994). She retired in 1995.